Using a standing desk may have certain health benefits. These can include improved productivity at work, better mood, and increased energy levels, among others.

Purchasing a standing desk may be the beginning of a health journey or a step toward establishing healthier habits.

This can be a major concern for office workers, or students, because they sit down for most of the day. Standing desks are becoming increasingly more popular.

What is a standing desk?

A standing desk, also called a stand-up desk, is basically a desk that allows you to stand up comfortably while working.

Many modern versions are adjustable, so that you can change the height of the desk and alternate between sitting and standing.

These are referred to as height-adjustable desks, or sit-stand desks.

Although research is still in its early stages, it does appear that using a standing desk can have some health benefits and may also increase productivity.

At the very least, using this type of desk can partly negate the harmful effects of sitting too much.

Here are 6 benefits of using a standing desk, that are supported by science.

Generally speaking, the more your blood sugar levels increase after meals, the worse it is for your health.

This is especially true for those with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.

In an older 2014 study of 10 office workers, standing for 180 minutes after lunch reduced the blood sugar spike by 43% compared to sitting for the same amount of time.

Both groups took the same number of steps, indicating that the smaller spike was due to standing rather than additional physical movements around the office.

A more recent 2021 study looked at the use of a standing desk over 24 weeks and found improvements in fasting triglycerides and insulin resistance.

Another 2022 study investigated the glucose levels of a group of women with obesity during two 1-week periods at work. This group already had impaired glucose levels.

During the first week, they were sitting down, and during the second week they would alternate between bouts of sitting and standing by using a standing desk.

The researchers found that blood glucose was significantly impaired during the week of sitting down, and agree that standing desks may be a useful strategy to reduce sedentarism and improve health outcomes for office workers.

In a 2024 study of 283 older adults, the authors witnessed great reductions in the participants’ systolic blood pressure over the 6-month period of their investigation. The participants received the following:

  • coaching contacts
  • sitting reduction goals
  • a standing desk
  • a fitness tracker to prompt sitting breaks

Reducing sitting time was a successful strategy for lowering blood pressure, so using a standing desk and taking breaks from sitting may be beneficial for heart health.

Back pain is one of the most common complaints of office workers who sit all day.

To determine if standing desks could improve this, several studies have been done on employees with long-term back pain.

In a 2024 study, researchers investigated the potential benefits of introducing a standing desk for office workers over a period of 6 months. Working conditions didn’t change, but the researchers offered workers motivation prompts as well. They have discovered improvements in the following areas:

  • decreased muscle discomfort
  • reduced tiredness and fatigue after work
  • lowered back pain

Another 2024 study suggests that using a standing desk can:

  • positively affect posture
  • reduce muscle fatigue
  • lower discomfort in people with forward head posture
  • prevent musculoskeletal disorders

Standing desks appear to have a positive influence on overall well-being.

A 2025 review of studies conducted among university students who used a standing desk in an academic setting indicates that reducing sitting time could improve health outcomes, particularly mood. Four studies in the review found improved mental health outcomes in students, which included:

  • reduced anxiety
  • improved mood
  • lowered stress
  • fewer negative feelings

The researchers agree that standing desks could be a useful intervention in universities to improve mental health outcomes. However, they’re stressing the importance of more long-term, high quality data being necessary to draw any definitive conclusions.

A common concern about standing desks is that they hinder daily tasks, such as typing.

While standing each afternoon may take some getting used to, standing desks appear to have a positive effect on typical work tasks and especially on perceived productivity.

A 2024 study concluded that alternating between sitting and standing by using a standing desk can have certain beneficial health effects, such as improving cognitive and physiological outcomes.

Their results suggest that standing helped participants process information more efficiently and that they were more engaged with certain easy tasks at work during periods of standing.

The researchers concluded that participants processed information more efficiently and showed improvements in productivity while standing. However, this was more likely to happen during relatively easy tasks and during shorter bouts of standing.

In a 2025 study, office workers also reported experiencing increased productivity when using a standing desk.

Sedentarism, or lack of physical activity, has a link to many negative health outcomes, including:

A standing desk may not be able to fix all health issues, but reducing bouts of sitting could be a useful step to implement toward better health, alongside other lifestyle changes.

Reducing sedentary time can improve physical and even mental health. This is why sitting less and standing more is such an important lifestyle change.

If you want to try this out, then most places that sell office furniture also offer sit-stand desks. You can also purchase one online.